Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour road trip: Distance, time & stops

The best stops on a Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour road trip include Dorrigo National Park and Bellingen. By car, the distance from Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour is 64km. That makes for a driving time of around 56m.

The Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour drive is one of the most scenic road trips in Australia. It passes through the Great Dividing Range, taking in some of New South Wales’ national parks, rainforests and waterfalls.

Coffs Harbour is an action-packed city with plenty of beaches. It also offers kayaking tours with marine scientists and a treetop adventure course.

Use this guide to help you plan out the perfect Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour road trip. Click through on the links for more detailed information on the towns and attractions.

Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour is 64km. That makes for a driving time of around 56 minutes.

The best stops to add to a Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour road trip itinerary are Dorrigo National Park, Bellingen and Bongil Bongil National Park.

Dorrigo accommodation recommendations

The best places to stay in Dorrigo are:

For central location: Frontier Motel.
For romance and views: Lookout Mountain Retreat.
For family-friendly cabins: Dorrigo Mountain Holiday Park.

Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour drive: Dorrigo National Park waterfalls

Before leaving Dorrigo along the Waterfall Way, pay a visit to Dangar Falls, which plunges 30 metres into a seductive pool.

Dorrigo is often used as a base for seeing the waterfalls in the surrounding area. Those who fancy a good walk can turn off west towards Red Cedar Falls and Casuarina Falls.

But the Waterfall Way continues past several of the top attractions in Dorrigo National Park. The Walk With The Birds Boardwalk, Tristania Falls, Crystal Shower Falls, the Skywalk Lookout and the Hardwood Lookout are all close to each other.

Then, further along on the drive from Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour, you’ll reach photo stops at Sherrard Falls and Newell Falls.

Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour road trip: Bellingen to Coffs Harbour

Bellingen is the last town before reaching Coffs Harbour. Things to do in Bellingen include seeing the flying foxes on Bellingen Island, sampling beers at the Bellingen Brewing Co and visiting the Wednesday farmers market.

A little further west, Bellingen Canoe Adventures in Fernmount offers canoe and kayak hire, plus Bellingen River canoe tours.

The best Bellingen accommodation choices

The top places to stay in Bellingen are:

For high quality food: The Lodge Bellingen.
For a gorgeous wooden building by the river: Bellingen Belfry Guesthouse.
For mountain views and a pool: Bella Vista Bellingen.

Once on the Pacific Highway, options include wine-tasting at the Raleigh Winery, taking in the views from the Perry’s Hill Lookout and mountain biking through Bongil Bongil National Park. For a beach detour, Sawtell Beach and Bonville Beach aren’t far off the highway.

Before reaching central Coffs, you’ll pass the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House and Coffs International Stadium.

6 fab Coffs Harbour experiences to book in advance

Glide through nature – on a Boambee Creek kayaking tour guided by a marine scientist.
Jump out of a plane – with tandem skydives that land on the beach.
Go kayaking and wildlife-spotting – on a coastal adventure.
Head into the hinterland – on a rainforest and waterfalls day tour.
Test your nerve and agility – at the Treetops Coffs Harbour adventure course.
See migrating humpbacks up close – on a whale-watching cruise.

Good things to do in Coffs Harbour include Jetty Beach, rainforest tours, whale-watching cruises and skydives.

For Coffs Harbour accommodation, consider the quirky Big Windmill Motel, the nature-flanked Sanctuary Resort, the helpfully central Best Western Zebra Motel and the well-equipped Beachpark Apartments.